U.S. patent application number 15/044665 was filed with the patent office on 2016-08-18 for image reading device and image forming apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.. Invention is credited to Katsuhiko OKAMOTO.
Application Number | 20160241723 15/044665 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56621693 |
Filed Date | 2016-08-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160241723 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
OKAMOTO; Katsuhiko |
August 18, 2016 |
IMAGE READING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
Abstract
An image reading device includes: a document conveyance section
configured to convey an original document placed on a document
loading chute; an original glass plate allowing the document
conveyed from the document conveyance section to pass thereover; a
reading unit that includes a light-emitting part including first,
second, and third light sources and configured to emit light toward
the document at a predetermined document reading position and a
light-receiving part configured to receive light reflected on the
document; a housing including a hollow letting part of light from
the light-emitting part out of the image reading device; a foreign
matter detecting section configured to detect a foreign matter on
the original glass plate; and an operation control section
configured to control the operation of the light-emitting part and,
upon detection of the foreign matter, allow the light-emitting part
to emit light in a different color from when reading the
document.
Inventors: |
OKAMOTO; Katsuhiko; (Osaka,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc. |
Osaka |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
KYOCERA Document Solutions
Inc.
Osaka
JP
|
Family ID: |
56621693 |
Appl. No.: |
15/044665 |
Filed: |
February 16, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/00909 20130101;
H04N 1/00037 20130101; H04N 2201/0094 20130101; H04N 1/1061
20130101; H04N 1/0057 20130101; H04N 1/00013 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 1/00 20060101
H04N001/00; H04N 1/10 20060101 H04N001/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 17, 2015 |
JP |
2015-029010 |
Claims
1. An image reading device comprising: a housing forming an outer
covering of the image reading device; a document conveyance section
including a document loading chute and configured to convey an
original document placed on the document loading chute; an original
glass plate allowing the original document being conveyed from the
document conveyance section to pass thereover; a reading unit
including a light-emitting part and a light-receiving part, the
light-emitting part including first light source, second light
source, and third light source and configured to emit light toward
the original document at a predetermined document reading position,
the light-receiving part being configured to receive light
reflected on the original document; an operation control section
configured to control a light emitting operation of the
light-emitting part; and a foreign matter detecting section
configured to detect a foreign matter on the original glass plate,
wherein the housing is provided with a hollow capable of letting
part of the light emitted from the light-emitting part out of the
image reading device, and the operation control section is further
configured to, when the foreign matter detecting section detects
the foreign matter on the original glass plate, allow the
light-emitting part to emit light of a different color from the
light emitted during reading of the original document.
2. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the
operation control section is further configured to change the color
of the light emitted from the light-emitting part depending on an
amount of the foreign matter detected by the foreign matter
detecting section.
3. The image reading device according to claim 2, wherein when the
foreign matter detecting section detects the foreign matter, the
operation control section allows the light-emitting part to light
or blink, and the operation control section further allows the
light-emitting part to light or blink differently depending on the
amount of the foreign matter detected.
4. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein when a
plurality of the original documents are placed on the document
loading chute and there are the plurality of the original documents
to be read, the operation control section performs, during a sheet
interval from an end of an operation of the reading unit for
reading one of the original documents to a start of an operation of
the reading unit for reading next one of the original documents,
processing for allowing the light-emitting part to emit the light
of the different color.
5. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the
operation control section performs, during a period from acceptance
of an instruction to read the original document to when the reading
unit starts reading the original document, processing for allowing
the light-emitting part to emit the light of the different
color.
6. The image reading device according to claim 4, further
comprising: a display section; a display control section configured
to control a display operation of the display section; and an
acceptance section configured to accept an instruction from a user,
wherein when the foreign matter detecting section detects the
foreign matter on the original glass plate, the operation control
section allows the reading unit to suspend reading the original
document and the display control section allows the display section
to display an acceptance screen through which an instruction to
stop or restart reading the original document is accepted from the
user, when the acceptance section accepts the instruction to stop
reading the original document, the operation control section allows
the reading unit to stop reading the original document, and when
the acceptance section accepts the instruction to restart reading
the original document, the operation control section allows the
reading unit to restart reading the original document.
7. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the
operation control section performs, after the reading unit
completes an operation of reading all the original documents placed
on the document loading chute, processing for allowing the
light-emitting part to emit the light of the different color.
8. The image reading device according to claim 1, further
comprising an acceptance section configured to accept a setting
about the color of the light to be emitted from the light-emitting
part when the foreign matter detecting section detects the foreign
matter on the original glass plate, wherein the operation control
section is further configured to allow the light-emitting part to
emit the light in the color indicated by the setting accepted by
the acceptance section.
9. The image reading device according to claim 1, further
comprising an acceptance section configured to accept a setting
about a timing with which the operation control section performs
processing for allowing the light-emitting part to emit the light
of the different color, wherein the operation control section
performs the processing for allowing the light-emitting part to
emit the light of the different color with the timing indicated by
the setting accepted by the acceptance section.
10. The image reading device according to claim 1, further
comprising an acceptance section configured to accept a setting
about a sensitivity of the foreign matter detecting section for
detecting the foreign matter, wherein the foreign matter detecting
section is further configured to perform processing for detecting
the foreign matter on the original glass plate with the sensitivity
indicated by the setting accepted by the acceptance section.
11. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein a light
guide capable of guiding the part of the light emitted from the
light-emitting part out of the image reading device is provided in
the hollow.
12. The image reading device according to claim 11, wherein an exit
surface of the light guide through which light goes toward the
outside of the image forming apparatus is embossed.
13. An image forming apparatus comprising an image reading device
and an image forming section, the image reading device comprising:
a housing forming an outer covering of the image reading device; a
document conveyance section including a document loading chute and
configured to convey an original document placed on the document
loading chute; an original glass plate allowing the original
document being conveyed from the document conveyance section to
pass thereover; a reading unit including a light-emitting part and
a light-receiving part, the light-emitting part including first
light source, second light source, and third light source and
configured to emit light toward the original document at a
predetermined document reading position, the light-receiving part
being configured to receive light reflected on the original
document; an operation control section configured to control a
light emitting operation of the light-emitting part; and a foreign
matter detecting section configured to detect a foreign matter on
the original glass plate, wherein the housing is provided with a
hollow capable of letting part of the light emitted from the
light-emitting part out of the image reading device, and the
operation control section is further configured to, when the
foreign matter detecting section detects the foreign matter on the
original glass plate, allow the light-emitting part to emit light
of a different color from the light emitted during reading of the
original document, and the image forming section is configured to
form an image on a recording paper sheet based on image data read
by the image reading device.
Description
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0001] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent
Application No. 2015-29010 filed on Feb. 17, 2015, the entire
contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates to image reading devices and
image forming apparatuses with the same and particularly relates to
a technique for, if there is dirt at a document reading position,
notifying a user of the existence of dirt at the document reading
position.
[0003] There is known a so-called sheet-through image reading
device in which an original document being conveyed over a document
reading position by a document conveyance section is read through
an original glass plate placed at the document reading position by
a reading unit, such as a scanner. If in this image reading device
there is dirt, such as dust, on the original glass plate, the dirt
naturally appears as a stripe in a read image from the reading
unit, resulting in an abnormal image. To cope with this, for
example, a technique is disclosed in which when in an image reading
device dirt, such as dust, on an original glass plate is detected,
the image reading device notifies a user of the existence of dirt,
such as dust, on the original glass plate by producing a peep or
the like or lighting or blinking a dedicated LED (light emitting
diode) or the like.
SUMMARY
[0004] A technique improved over the above technique is proposed
herein as one aspect of the present disclosure.
[0005] An image reading device according to an aspect of the
present disclosure includes a housing, a document conveyance
section, an original glass plate, a reading unit, an operation
control section, and a foreign matter detecting section.
[0006] The housing forms an outer covering of the image reading
device.
[0007] The document conveyance section includes a document loading
chute and is configured to convey an original document placed on
the document loading chute.
[0008] The original glass plate allows the original document being
conveyed from the document conveyance section to pass
thereover.
[0009] The reading unit includes: a light-emitting part including
first light source, second light source, and third light source and
configured to emit light to the original document at a
predetermined document reading position; and a light-receiving part
configured to receive light reflected on the original document.
[0010] The operation control section is configured to control a
light emitting operation of the light-emitting part.
[0011] The foreign matter detecting section is configured to detect
a foreign matter on the original glass plate.
[0012] The housing is provided with a hollow capable of letting
part of the light emitted from the light-emitting part out of the
image reading device.
[0013] The operation control section is further configured to, when
the foreign matter detecting section detects the foreign matter on
the original glass plate, allow the light-emitting part to emit
light of a different color from the light emitted during reading of
the original document.
[0014] An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of
the present disclosure includes the above-described image reading
device and an image forming section.
[0015] The image forming section is configured to form an image on
a recording paper sheet based on image data read by the image
reading device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an image forming
apparatus according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration
of the image forming apparatus according to the one embodiment of
the present disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of an
image reading section in the one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the image reading
section when a document conveyance section is open in the one
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of an image reading
operation of the image forming apparatus according to the one
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of an image reading
operation of an image forming apparatus according to Modification 1
of the present disclosure.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of an acceptance screen
displayed on a display section of the image forming apparatus
according to Modification 1 of the present disclosure.
[0023] FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of a setting screen
displayed on a display section of an image forming apparatus
according to Modification 2 of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] Hereinafter, a description will be given of an image reading
device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure and an
image forming apparatus with the same, with reference to the
drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the image forming
apparatus with the image reading device according to the one
embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a block diagram
showing an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus
with the image reading device according to the one embodiment of
the present disclosure.
[0025] The image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction peripheral
having multiple functions, including a facsimile communication
function, a copy function, a print function, and a scan function.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 is roughly
composed of an apparatus body 80 and an image reading section 10
disposed over the apparatus body 80.
[0026] A housing 81 constituting an outer covering of the apparatus
body 80 accommodates a sheet feed section 82, a sheet conveyance
section 83, an image forming section 84, a storage section 87, and
so on.
[0027] The sheet feed section 82 includes a sheet feed cassette
(not shown) capable of accommodating a plurality of sheets
(recording paper sheets) and a feed roller (not shown) configured
to feed the recording paper sheets accommodated in the sheet feed
cassette to a sheet conveyance path provided in the interior of the
housing 81.
[0028] The sheet conveyance section 83 includes a plurality of
conveyance roller pairs (not shown) provided at the respective
plurality of locations along the sheet conveyance path and a drive
section (not shown) operable to drive the conveyance roller pairs
into rotation and is configured to convey a sheet fed from the
sheet feed section 82 toward the image forming section 84.
[0029] The image forming section 84 includes a photosensitive drum
(not shown), a charging device (not shown), an exposure device (not
shown), a developing device (not shown), and so on and is
configured to form a toner image of an original document read by
the image reading section 10 on the photosensitive drum through
charging, exposure, and development processes. The toner image
formed on the photosensitive drum is transferred to the sheet
conveyed by the sheet conveyance section 83 and the sheet is
subjected to fixation processing and then discharged to a sheet
output tray 88.
[0030] An operating section 85 is disposed at the front of the
housing 81 of the apparatus body 80. The operating section 85
includes a plurality of operating keys 851, such as a start key for
use in instructing an execution of an image reading job (image
reading instruction), and a display section 852 formed by including
a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic light-emitting diode
(OLED) display.
[0031] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of
the image reading section 10 in the one embodiment of the present
disclosure. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the image reading
section 10 when a document conveyance section 20 is open in the one
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0032] The image reading section 10 includes a reading section 30
and a document conveyance section 20 disposed over the reading
section 30.
[0033] The document conveyance section 20 includes a document
loading chute 21 on which a plurality of original documents can be
placed, a document conveyance mechanism 22 operable to convey the
original documents placed on the document loading chute 21, a
platen mat 23, and a document ejection portion 24 onto which
already read original documents are to be ejected. The document
conveyance mechanism 22 is configured to feed forward the plurality
of original documents placed on the document loading chute 21 sheet
by sheet by a sheet feed roller 221 and a separation roller 222
arranged in pair and convey the fed original document toward a
below-described original glass plate 32 by a conveyance roller pair
223. The original document conveyed onto the original glass plate
32 is read by a below-described reading unit 40 at a document
reading position located between a white guide member 28 and the
original glass plate 32. The document conveyance mechanism 22 is
further configured to eject the already read original document to
the document ejection portion 24 by a sheet ejection roller
224.
[0034] Furthermore, the document conveyance section 20 is provided
to be openable and closable with respect to the main surface of the
original glass plate 32 and thus serves as an original cover
capable of holding an original document placed on the original
glass plate 32.
[0035] An opening is provided in a surface 31A of the housing 31 of
the reading section 30 facing the document conveyance section 20
when the document conveyance section 20 serving as the original
cover is closed. An original glass plate 32 is fitted into the
opening. The original glass plate 32 is divided into a first
original glass plate 321 for use in reading an original document
being conveyed and a second original glass plate 322 for use in
reading a stationary original document. A document separating
member 33 is provided between the first and second original glass
plates 321 and 322 in order to separate the original document read
by the reading unit 40 from the first original glass plate 321 and
eject it.
[0036] The reading unit 40 is provided movably in the sub-scanning
direction beside a surface (back surface) of the original glass
plate 32 opposite to a surface (front surface) thereof on which an
original document is to be placed. In reading a stationary original
document, the reading unit 40 reads the original document placed on
the second original glass plate 322 while being reciprocated in the
sub-scanning direction by a reading unit drive section 50 (see FIG.
2) formed of a motor, a gear, and so on. On the other hand, in
reading an original document being conveyed, the reading unit 40 is
kept fixed at a predetermined position on the back side of the
first original glass plate 321 by the reading unit drive section 50
and reads, at the predetermined document reading position, the
original document being conveyed over the first original glass
plate 321 by the document conveyance section 20.
[0037] The reading unit 40 includes: a light-emitting part 41
composed of, for example, a plurality of LEDs including a red LED
(the first light source), a green LED (the second light source),
and a blue LED (the third light source); and an unshown
light-receiving part, such as a CMOS (complementary metal oxide
semiconductor) image sensor. The reading unit 40 is configured to
apply red, green, and blue light beams from the light-emitting part
41 to an original document to be read while switching from one
colored light beam to another and receive reflected light from the
original document on the light-receiving part. The light-receiving
part converts the received light into an electrical signal to
acquire image data of one line in the main scanning direction. The
image data is converted into a digital signal by an A/D converter
built in the image forming apparatus 1 and then subjected to
various image processing, such as shading correction, gamma
correction, chromatic aberration correction, MTF (modulation
transfer function) correction, and scanner color correction. Then,
the image data generated by the above image processing is stored in
a storage section 87, such as an image memory or an HDD, built in
the image forming apparatus 1.
[0038] An opening 15 is formed in a front surface 12 of a housing
11 forming an outer covering of the image reading section 10.
Likewise, an opening 16 is also formed in a bottom surface 14 of
the housing 11 facing the reading section 30 when the document
conveyance section 20 serving as the original cover is closed.
These openings 15 and 16 are connected by an approximately L-shaped
hollow 13.
[0039] The opening 16 is provided at a location of the bottom
surface 14 near a stationary position of the reading unit 40 when
kept fixed during reading of an original document being conveyed.
Therefore, part of the light emitted from the light-emitting part
41 of the reading unit 40 during reading of the original document
being conveyed enters the opening 16. The light entering the
opening 16 passes through the hollow 13 and then exits the image
forming apparatus 1 through the opening 15.
[0040] An approximately L-shaped light guide 60 is provided in the
hollow 13. The light guide 60 guides the light entering the opening
16 to the opening 15. Furthermore, the exit surface of the light
guide 60 through which light goes toward the outside of the image
forming apparatus 1 is embossed. The light exiting the light guide
60 is diffused by the embossed pattern formed on the exit surface
of the light guide 60.
[0041] Referring back to FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1
further includes a control unit 100. The control unit 100 is
composed of a CPU (central processing unit), a RAM (random access
memory), a ROM (read only memory), and so on. When a control
program stored in the above ROM or storage section 87 is executed
by the above CPU, the control unit 100 functions as a control
section 101, an operation control section 102, a foreign matter
detecting section 103, an acceptance section 104, and a display
control section 105. Alternatively, each of the sections of the
control unit 100 may not be implemented by the operation of the
control unit 100 in accordance with the aforementioned control
program but may be constituted by a hardware circuit.
[0042] The control section 101 governs the overall operation
control of the image forming apparatus 1. The control section 101
is connected to the image reading section 10, the sheet feed
section 82, the sheet conveyance section 83, the image forming
section 84, the operating section 85, and so on and performs the
operation control of the above sections connected thereto and
signal or data transfer to and from the sections.
[0043] The acceptance section 104 has the function of accepting an
instruction to execute an image reading job and other instructions
entered using the operating keys 851 or the like of the operating
section 85.
[0044] The display control section 105 has the function of
controlling the display operation of the display section 852.
[0045] The operation control section 102 has the function of
controlling an operation of the reading unit drive section 50 for
driving the reading unit 40 and a light emitting operation of the
light-emitting part 41.
[0046] The foreign matter detecting section 103 has the function of
determining whether or not there is dirt (a foreign matter (FM)),
such as dust, on the first original glass plate 321 for use in
reading an original document being conveyed. The foreign matter
detecting section 103 acquires image data for analysis by reading a
white guide member 28 through the first original glass plate 321
with no original document placed on the first original glass plate
321. The foreign matter detecting section 103 determines whether or
not there is a foreign matter on the first original glass plate 321
by analyzing the acquired image data for analysis. Specifically,
when detecting a pixel having a pixel value not more than a
predetermined threshold value, the foreign matter detecting section
103 determines that there is a foreign matter on the first original
glass plate 321. When detecting no pixel having a pixel value not
more than the predetermined threshold value, the foreign matter
detecting section 103 determines that there is no foreign matter on
the first original glass plate 321. The predetermined threshold
value defines the sensitivity for detecting a foreign matter of
determining whether or not there is a foreign matter, and is
previously stored in the storage section 87 or the like. In
performing the above foreign matter detection processing, the
foreign matter detecting section 103 reads the predetermined
threshold value from the storage section 87 or the like.
[0047] Thus far is the description of the structure of the image
forming apparatus 1 according to the one embodiment of the present
disclosure. The image reading device according to the one
embodiment of the present disclosure has, as an example, a
structure including the above-described image reading section 10,
the above-described control unit 100, the above-described operating
section 85, the above-described storage section 87, and so on.
[0048] Next, a description will be given of the operation of the
image forming apparatus 1 according to the one embodiment of the
present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of an
image reading operation of the image forming apparatus 1 according
to the one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0049] When the acceptance section 104 accepts an image reading
instruction (YES in step S10), the foreign matter detecting section
103 determines whether or not there is a foreign matter on the
first original glass plate 321 for use in reading an original
document being conveyed (step S11).
[0050] When the foreign matter detecting section 103 determines
that there is a foreign matter on the first original glass plate
321 (YES in step S12), the operation control section 102 performs
alert processing (step S13). In the alert processing, the operation
control section 102 first allows the reading unit drive section 50
to move the reading unit 40 to the stationary position of the
reading unit 40 to be kept fixed during reading of an original
document being conveyed. Then, the operation control section 102
allows the light-emitting part 41 to emit light in a light emitting
mode different from that of the light-emitting part 41 during
reading of an original document (i.e., reading of an original
document being conveyed or reading of a stationary original
document).
[0051] The operation control section 102 allows the light-emitting
part 41 to emit light in a different light emitting mode by
changing the color of light to be emitted. During reading of an
original document, the operation control section 102 allows the
light-emitting part 41 to emit white light in which red, green, and
blue light beams emitted from the red LED, the green LED, and the
blue LED are superimposed. On the other hand, during the alert
processing, the operation control section 102 allows the
light-emitting part 41 to emit light of a color other than white,
for example, red light by allowing only the red LED to emit
light.
[0052] The operation control section 102 may allow the
light-emitting part 41 to change the color of light emitted
therefrom depending on the amount of foreign matter (the size
thereof or the number of foreign matters) detected by the foreign
matter detecting section 103. For example, when the foreign matter
detecting section 103 detects at least a predetermined amount of
foreign matter, the operation control section 102 allows the
light-emitting part 41 to emit red light. When the foreign matter
detecting section 103 detects less than the predetermined amount of
foreign matter, the operation control section 102 emits yellow
light.
[0053] Alternatively, the operation control section 102 may allow
the light-emitting part 41 to emit light in different light
emitting modes depending on the amount of foreign matter detected
by the foreign matter detecting section 103 by allowing the
light-emitting part 41 to light or blink. For example, when the
foreign matter detecting section 103 detects at least a
predetermined amount of foreign matter, the operation control
section 102 allows the light-emitting part 41 to light red. When
the foreign matter detecting section 103 detects less than the
predetermined amount of foreign matter, the operation control
section 102 allows the light-emitting part 41 to blink red.
[0054] Part of the light emitted from the light-emitting part 41 in
the above alert processing enters the opening 16. The light
entering the opening 16 passes through the hollow 13 and then exits
the image forming apparatus 1 through the opening 15. Since the
light exiting the opening 15 provided in the front surface 12 of
the housing 11 forming the outer covering of the image reading
section 10 has a different color from the light during reading of
an original document, the user can know the existence of dirt, such
as dust, on the first original glass plate 321 for use in reading
an original document being conveyed. Furthermore, the alerting can
be implemented, without the provision of any dedicated LED or the
like, with a simple structure.
[0055] The above alert processing in step S13 is performed for a
predetermined time. After the predetermined time has passed, the
processing in step S13 ends and the operation control section 102
allows the document conveyance section 20 to convey an original
document placed on the document loading chute 21 and allows the
reading section 30 to read the original document at the document
reading position (step S14).
[0056] On the other hand, when the foreign matter detecting section
103 determines that there is no foreign matter on the first
original glass plate 321 (NO in step S12), the operation control
section 102 performs the image reading processing in step S14
without performing the alert processing in step S13.
[0057] The description in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 has been
given of the case where the alert processing in step S13 is
performed before the execution of the image reading processing.
However, if there are a plurality of original documents to be read,
the operation control section 102 may perform the alert processing
during a sheet interval from the end of an operation of the reading
section 30 for reading one original document to the start of an
operation of the reading section 30 for reading the next one. In
this case, light in the light emitting mode during reading of an
original document (for example, white light) and light in the light
emitting mode during the alert processing (for example, red light)
are alternately emitted through the opening 15 to the outside of
the image forming apparatus 1.
[0058] Furthermore, the operation control section 102 may perform
the alert processing in step S13 after the end of the image reading
processing in step S14, i.e., after the end of the reading of all
the original documents indicated by the image reading instruction
accepted in step S10.
[0059] The description in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 has been
given of the case where the foreign matter detecting section 103
performs the foreign matter detection processing before the
execution of the image reading processing. However, if there are a
plurality of original documents to be read, the foreign matter
detecting section 103 may perform the foreign matter detection
processing during a sheet interval from the end of an operation of
the reading section 30 for reading one original document to the
start of an operation of the reading section 30 for reading the
next one.
[0060] For example, in the case where the user is notified of the
existence of dirt, such as dust, on the original glass plate simply
by producing a peep or the like, such an acoustic notification
using a sound may offer a sense of discomfort to non-involved
persons other than the user having entered the document reading
instruction. Therefore, depending on the manner of using the image
reading device, visual notification may be preferable to acoustic
notification. In addition, since the technique applied to the image
reading device as described in BACKGROUND is visual notification
using a dedicated LED or the like, it is necessary to additionally
provide a dedicated LED or the like for the image reading
device.
[0061] Unlike the above conventional technique, if there is dirt,
such as dust, on the original glass plate, the image forming
apparatus 1 according to the above embodiment can notify the user
of the existence of dirt with a simple structure.
[0062] The present disclosure is not limited to the above
embodiment and can be modified in various ways.
[0063] <Modification 1>
[0064] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of an image reading
operation of an image forming apparatus according to Modification 1
of the present disclosure. The same processing steps as those in
the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 will be designated by the same
references and further explanation thereof will be omitted.
[0065] After the execution of the alert processing in step S13, the
display control section 105 allows the display section 852 to
display a predetermined acceptance screen (step S20). FIG. 7 is a
view showing an example of an acceptance screen D1 displayed on the
display section 852. The acceptance screen D1 is a screen through
which a user's instruction to stop or restart reading an original
document is accepted.
[0066] When the user performs an operation of selecting a button dl
provided in the acceptance screen D1, the acceptance section 104
accepts an instruction to stop reading an original document (YES in
step S21). In this case, the operation control section 102 stops
the image reading processing that was supposed to be performed
based on the image reading instruction accepted in step S10 (step
S22).
[0067] On the other hand, when the user performs an operation of
selecting a button d2 provided in the acceptance screen D1, the
acceptance section 104 accepts an instruction to restart reading an
original document (NO in step S21). In this case, the operation
control section 102 restarts the image reading processing (step
S14).
[0068] As just described, when knowing, from an alert, that there
is dirt, such as dust, on the first original glass plate 321 for
use in reading an original document being conveyed, the user can
select to stop or restart reading the original document.
[0069] In the case where the alert processing is performed during a
sheet interval from when the reading section 30 completes the
operation of reading one original document to when it starts the
operation of reading the next original document, the operation
control section 102 performs the processing in the above-described
step S20 and later steps after it allows the reading section 30 to
suspend reading the next original document.
[0070] <Modification 2>
[0071] The acceptance section 104 may accept settings about colors
of light to be emitted from the light-emitting part 41 when the
foreign matter detecting section 103 detects a foreign matter on
the first original glass plate 321. Furthermore, the acceptance
section 104 may accept a setting about the timing with which the
above alert processing is performed. Moreover, the acceptance
section 104 may accept a setting about the sensitivity for
detecting a foreign matter.
[0072] FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of a setting screen D2
displayed on the display section 852 in Modification 2 of the
present disclosure. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the user can
select, as the settings about the light emitting mode, the light
emitting mode when the foreign matter detecting section 103 has
detected a large foreign matter, the light emitting mode when the
foreign matter detecting section 103 has detected a small foreign
matter, and the light emitting mode when the foreign matter
detecting section 103 has detected no foreign matter. Furthermore,
the user can select, as the setting about the sensitivity for
detecting a foreign matter, a high, middle, or low level of
sensitivity. Moreover, the user can select the timing with which
the alert processing is performed from among before the start of
reading of an original document, in the sheet intervals between
original documents, and on completion of reading of all of a set of
original documents.
[0073] The acceptance section 104 accepts each of the above
settings based on an operation entered by the user according to the
above setting screen D2. The acceptance section 104 allows the
storage section 87 to store the accepted setting as setting data.
For example, the acceptance section 104 allows the storage section
87 to store a threshold value (pixel value) corresponding to the
sensitivity for detecting a foreign matter. The operation control
section 102 allows the light-emitting part 41 to emit light in a
light emitting mode indicated by the setting data stored in the
storage section 87. Furthermore, the operation control section 102
performs the alert processing with a timing indicated by the
setting data stored in the storage section 87. Moreover, the
operation control section 102 performs the processing for detecting
a foreign matter on the first original glass plate 321 using a
threshold value indicated by the setting data stored in the storage
section 87.
[0074] As just described, in the image forming apparatus 1
according to Modification 2, the user can make desired settings
about the light emitting mode of the light-emitting part 41, the
timing to perform the alert processing, and the sensitivity for
detecting a foreign matter.
[0075] Various modifications and alterations of this disclosure
will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from
the scope and spirit of this disclosure, and it should be
understood that this disclosure is not limited to the illustrative
embodiments set forth herein.
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